Knife-crime team makes 400-plus arrests in a year in bid to protect Hucknall, Bulwell and rest of county

Their tireless efforts also brought about the removal of more than £440,000 in illegal drugs from the streets during 2021 – with drugs often going hand-in-hand with knife crime.

That success includes the seizure of 18.21 kilograms of cannabis, 1.19kg of cocaine and over half a kilogram of heroin along with other types of drugs.

In the last 12 months the proactive knife crime teams arrested 439 people as well as removing 174 dangerous weapons from the streets.

Their other successes include making 465 drug seizures, 299 vehicle seizures and reporting 363 people for summons.

Patrolling in police cars, unmarked cars, and on foot, the knife crime team members are working constantly and using all tactics available to them to catch knife and drug offenders before they commit offences.

Their daily activity, including effective use of stop and search powers, is helping to deter people from carrying blades in the first place, as well as providing reassurance to the public.

Superintendent Kathryn Craner, the force’s knife-crime lead, said: “These results reflect the everyday commitment of our knife crime teams, supported by other force resources, to keeping people safe and reducing violent crime.

“The teams are making their presence felt on the front line by tackling criminality and stopping crime before it happens in the first place, as well as striving to bring dangerous knife offenders to justice.

“I hope the teams’ positive impact reassures people how seriously the force treats all reports of weapon-enabled violence and we will continue to work hard as an organisation to reduce the number of people carrying knives and help them understand the risks and potential consequences.”

Extra officers are being allocated to the specialist knife-crime teams, with investment giving them even more teeth to proactively combat knife crime in 2022.

Official national figures show knife crime has significantly reduced in Nottinghamshire in the last three years, falling by a massive 25 per cent - including 10 per cent in the last year (year to June 2021).

The latest data shows Nottinghamshire having fewer knife crimes than neighbouring Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

The knife-crime teams’ enforcement has helped drive that reduction by putting offenders behind bars and stopping them committing further crime.

Supt Craner added: "We understand the devastating consequences knife crime can have on people’s lives on all sides which is why we continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners and communities in doing everything we can to keep people safe and crack down on this issue.

“Carrying knives on our streets will not be tolerated and we will continue to use every tactic at our disposal to drive down knife crime. We are never complacent and our work continues every single day to protect the public and rid our streets of weapons

"This includes the ongoing hard work going into knife crime education and prevention, such as through our schools and early intervention officers, as well as through the positive work of the Violence Reduction Unit and others to prevent vulnerable young people from being drawn into criminality and give them support they need.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry added:

"The proactiveness of Nottinghamshire Police's dedicated knife crime team is reflected in the results the team have produced, resulting in fewer knife crimes in Nottinghamshire than in our neighbouring counties.

These results are a clear example of how we are delivering on our ambition to get knives off our streets and keep people safe. I want thank all those officers and partners who have worked tirelessly to achieve these incredible results."

Natalie Baker-Swift, interim head of the Violence Reduction Unit, said:

“The work of the Knife Crime teams is invaluable responding to the threat of serious violence on our streets here and now, creating the space for the Violence Reduction Unit to work with partners, including Police, health, social care, education and youth justice to tackle the causes of serious violence.

"Whilst we have seen a reduction in knife crime in Nottinghamshire in the last three years which is really encouraging, we cannot be complacent and it is imperative, that as a partnership, we work toward long term, sustainable change for our communities and our young people”.

Anyone with information on knife crime in their local community is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always dial 999.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​